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My methods also worked on Vista, but Windows 7 and Windows 8 have exponentially complicated the process by requiring tools to create multiple .xml files that either build your install for you ( I prefer to manually set up my own) or regulate what sysprep does or doesn't do.

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Unfortunately, the previous methods you used in conjunction with previous operating system deployments to copy the task bar icons from one image to another will not work the same when it comes to imaging Windows 8. This can be seen in the TechNet article Basic Windows Deployment Step-by-Step Guide, under section 3.2 'Customize the default user profile' where it states: "Note that items that are pinned to the taskbaror to the Start screen are not copied to the default user profile."

Setting the pinned items to a customized default setting would have to be done in another manner, such as scripting. This TechNet forum thread links to a script written for Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008R2, however another forum member tested and claims it works on Windows 8 / Windows Server 2012.

Furthermore, the TechNet article DoNotCleanTaskBaralso states that this setting was only used to copy deskbands, which is a customized toolbar that can be added to the taskbar. With that said, this setting will not be able to pull the pinned taskbar items to the default user profile.